Appears the Maker's shortage is real...

What honey barrels? Maker's does extra work (rotating barrels) to ensure that there are as few outlier (honey/otherwise) barrels as possible. And then they dump them all at a fairly young age, whether or not a particular barrel is one that would continue to improve.

Of course some barrels end up better than others, but there probably aren't a ton of real standout MM barrels, thanks to differences from the way everyone else does things.

Re: Appears the Maker's shortage is real...

Originally Posted by HighInTheMtns

What honey barrels? Maker's does extra work (rotating barrels) to ensure that there are as few outlier (honey/otherwise) barrels as possible. And then they dump them all at a fairly young age, whether or not a particular barrel is one that would continue to improve.

Of course some barrels end up better than others, but there probably aren't a ton of real standout MM barrels, thanks to differences from the way everyone else does things.

It's no younger than WSR or OWA, which are both in the same age and price range. Warehouse location is not the only thing that makes for a honey barrel.

Re: Appears the Maker's shortage is real...

Originally Posted by P&MLiquorsEric

Many bigger stores will have giant makers displays or "case stacks" full of all sizes. Every day a worker at that store takes bottles out of the boxes below to fill displays and shelves. It looks full to you but the supply in those boxes is going down.

I learned this the hard way at the Bardstown Kroger this year. Looked like 3 cases of 2012 FRSmB LEd; bought 2 bottles; came back later to buy more, and they were gone. Ends up there were only 6 or 7 bottles and the cases below were empty.

Re: Appears the Maker's shortage is real...

Originally Posted by mosugoji64

Right on, Joe. I wasn't initially a fan of HH's wheated profile, but have come to love it. There's a chocolatey character that's completely different from the BT fruity wheat and just as good. I'm thinking the problem was me and that it took me a while to warm up to something that defied my expectations.
For anyone lamenting an impending shortage of MM, there are other options that are just as good or better. Remain open to experimenting, and you will be richly rewarded!

It's the chocolaty character at the end and finish of MM that makes me like it so much. I have not gotten that in the Larceny I have had (2 bottles) will have to give it another ago. As WSR and OWA have seemingly gotten younger all I get is brown sugar sweetness and wood. Weller 12 is a different story, still has that butterscotch, nutmeg, coconut thing...

Re: Appears the Maker's shortage is real...

One thing I've noticed; nobody has mentioned Makers 46. Do they bottle enough of it to really affect the regular MM supply. I see MM46 in almost every store. I don't know if it's a hit (are they selling a lot). I even wondered if the shortage would make it go away.